Aerial apparatus.



. G. D. GOODRIHga A AERIAL APPARATUS. APPLIGATION Hmm JULY ze, 191,1.7

Patentd Mar. 11,1913.

G. D. GOODRIGH. AERIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILBUJULY 2e. m11.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

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AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1911.

1,055,325. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

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A-rro RMS Y G. D. GODRIGH.

I, AERIAL APPARATUS. APPmoA'rIoN FILED JULY 26 1911.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

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'erally suitably located and held on the ap' iran sra'rns ritratta? orrros.

GEORGE D. GOODRIGH. OF SOMERVILIE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AERIAL APPARATUS."

AAerial Apparatuspof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, more particularly,

to, the propulsion of aerial through the air, to raising and holding it Araised from the ground, and to holding it| against, more especially, lateral or sidewise tipping, whilein the air. And to securing 'these several ends this invention consists, in substance, First. In providing the apparatus with open end tubular-passages or Ways sevpr'atus, in combination with a series of Spirally runnlng blades arranged so as to be rotated within each of said passages, and ,all 1n amanner for air o be drawn 1n at one of the open ends of each of said passages and to be forced therethrough and 25 discharged under pressure, at the other open ends thereof. Second. In providing the ap'- paratus with an` open end tubular-passage 4or wayheld 0n Iand centrally or midway located along the length of the apparatus, and with open end tubular-passages or ways at each side ofV said centrally located passage, and each of said side-passages adapted for being placed vertically, or in Vother words, for being placed so that the axial line of each will extend transversely of the axial line of said centrally located passage, 'incoinbinatio'n with a series of spirally running-blades arranged so 4as to `,be .rotated within each of said passages, and all in a manner for air to be drawn in at one of the open ends of said passages and to be forced therethrough and discharged, under pressure, at the other Aopen ends thereof.

Further than the above, the invention consists in other features of improvements, all as will hereinafter fully appear. 4

In the drawings, forming partl of this specification, the present' invention is illus- 't-rated.

Figure 1 is a plan view and F '1^ and 1n are detail -views, as will hereinafter apr' apparatus l specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 11, 1913. Application riled July d26, 1911. Serial No. 640,686. i

-Fig. ft vis a vert-ical transverse section substantially along the dotted line. 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 1s a central longitudinal section of the central logatcd tubular passage or way of the apparatus. l

In the drawings, A is a horizontal platform and B is a framework composed of metal vertical and horizontal rods, and two end-uprights B2. Thisframework is constructed and arrangedin its several parts,

and otherwise all as shown in the drawings and as will hereinafter appear so as to'constitute and make a framework suitable to 4.support 4the several running and stationary parts of the apparatus of this invention.

C, and D, D', and E, EJ are tubular-passages or ways each openl 4at their opposite ends, but otherwise substantially closed,'andV each of these ways has double, or inner and outer walls, a. and a2, with-an nclosed space or chamber a, between them F igsfl and as and for purposes as will hereinafter ap-l pear. The tulnilar-way'or passage C is sta-v tionary, and it extends horizontally lengthwise of and is suitably fixed and held centrally or midway. along and in the upper portion of the framework 13.1 The several tubular-ways or passages D, D?, and E, EL are inpairs D, D2, and E, E2, respectively, on'opposite sides of the central tubular-way C andat corresponding distances therefrom, and thoseof each pair are correspondingly separated and each is directly opposite the corresponding.one of the other pair. 4Each side tubular-passage is exteriorly and midway of its length and on' one side, hung by a. horizontal swiveling trunnion-joint F which'is, in part, on said tubular passage' and, in the other part, on the centraltubular-way C, all so thateach may be swungA on said central .tubular-passage in a vertical plane.` y

Gr, G are vertical quadrantaLor sectorgears `held on the part ot' a trunnion F which is on a side tubular-passage'and, in

each instance, .each sector-gear G, at its lower edge, meshes with a vertical gearwheel H, and the gears H which are on the same side of the central tuhlllar-lmssage (l, are, at opposite endsof a transverse horizontal shaft. .l mounted in suitable bearings of the franie\\' n-k B and each of said gears l-l meshes. with a' vertical rear-wheel K. These gears K, at the sameside of the cen,- tral tubular-passage (l, are at opposite ends of a transverse horizontal shaft L mounted them y1n posit-ions, as may be desired, to wit, 1n direct vertical positions, as particularly s@ rebasan in suitable bearingsof the framework B, and each of these shafts 'L isI to be adapted, in any suitable manner, to be rotated, as for instance, by spaced horizontal and `lateral projecting-handles M on each of said gears bl, and thus, through the intermediate gearingidescribed, and which between said shafts L and the trunn'ions F of said side tubular-passages, to swing said side tubularpassages on their trunnions and so place shown in the drawings, or in vertically inclined positions` as shown in dotted lines, Fig, y2. The circular run of the. sectorgears G, asis obvious, limits the extent of lthe swing of the side tubular-passages, from posit-ions in which the longitudinal median I lines thereof lie at rightangles to the longitudinal median line of said central tubular passage C, to positions in which the first said median lines lie parallel with themedian axial line of said ce-ntral passage C,

and in all of said positions said side tubularpassages are toy be held against accidental displacement or movement by means suitable therefor, and applied to their said operating parts, but no means for this purpose are shown, as they are so self evident. Said central'tubular-passage C and each of said several sidevtubular-passages l), D2, and E, E2, have a series of spirally running blades N arranged about their longitudinal axes of 'a diameter corresponding substantially to the internal diameter vof their respective passages but such, however, as to permit them to -inove freely around ,therein`,and again said blades l\l of each tubular-passage are carried bjjf a horizontal axial shaft O, and each of thesev shafts 0 is supported and turns in suitable bearings of open circular frames l rigidly held on the inner side of the passage. .The portion ofthe blades N which is between the two end-portions of the blades on the shaft O of` the central tubular-passage C is carried by a longitudinal. sleeve Q and this sleeve surrounds the cen- 'tral portion of said shaft, and, at its opposite ends, is 'confine-d against .lengthwise movement on the shaft by shoulders j' thereof. rllhe several blades N at both end-portions of the central tubular-passage C-run in the same spiral direct-ion, while the blades which are between them.run in the opposite direction Again the blades of each ofthe side tubular-passages run in the same spirall direction and in each instance this direction such that the blades, under rotation, asv i will hereinafter appear, will draw air in at the upper ends thereof and, lforcing it through said passages, discharge 1 pressure at the lower ends thereoof its several blades, which. are at the endportions thereof, isv such as to draw air'in at under' the front end C2 of said passage and discharge it, under pressure, at the rear end C3 thereof, while by the spiral run in an oppo-v site direction of the blades at the central portion of said tube, the tendency of the air in its said movement through the tubularpassage from end to end, to revolve with the blades is prevented to a substantial and practical extent, the. advantages of which are obvious without particular mention, it 75, being understood as will hereinafter appear, that said end series of blades N rotate in one and the same direction, and that said central series. of blades N rotate in theopposite direction. Mechanisms are provided for rotating said' several series of spirally run- `ning-blades N of the said several tubularpassages -by rotating their respective carrying-shafts 0 and these mechanisms, in each instance, consist of trainsof gear-wheels, to be now particularly described, which 'are severally operated from a common horizontal and longitudinal driving-shaft R turning in'suitable bearings yof the end-uprights B2 ofthe framework B.

S, S are' two similar vertical gear-wheels at opposite end-portions of the driving-shaft R and each of these gears meshes with cor-l responding vertical gear-wheels T, T of-,a common longitudinalhorizontal shaft located above thel driving-shaft and turning in suitable bearings of the framework B.' This shaft- U carries, at its opposite endportions, similar vertical gear-wheels V, V (Fig. meshing at their upper edge with 10Q vertical gear-wheels WV, W- carried by the opposite yend-po-rtions of the horizontal and axial-shaft O of the 4common tubular-passage C and thus, asis plain, the rotation of the driving-shaft R is communicated to said 105 axial-shaft of said central tubular-passage and so its o-pposite end-portions are rotated in one and the same direction. The shaft U- geared by gear-wheels V, V to the gearwheels lV, `W ofthe axi l-shaft O of the 110 central tubular-passage C carries, between its'said opposite end-gears V, V, a vertical gear-wheel X, which is connected by a trainl Y of vertically arranged and meshing gearwheels, (Figs. lAand 1B more particularly) 115 suitably supportedA from, and having their respective shafts turning in suitable bearings on the outer side of the central tubularpas'sage C, said train having its gear-wheel Y2 in mesh with a vertical gear-wheel Z car- 120 ried by the sleeve Q surrounding the axialshaft O o-f said central passage C and thus `said sleeve is rotated, carrying with t its several spirally running-blades N and,asis

plain, this rotation is createdv by the 'ro-tation m5 lower side.

, the central tubular-passage C and is suit- D2, and E, E2, are rotated therewitliiig-*on frame so as not to interfere with the move- 'wheel F2, which, by its hub F2, turns on a The shaft F4, havingthe clutching-mecha- -ion gear-,wheel P2 in mesh with -a similar www will be rotated in an opposite i' 'l' that of the shaft on mounted.

A2 is a vertical gear-wheel carried by'tl A driving-shaft R between its twol end-goall-` wheels S, S, and this gearwheel A2, at its meshes with a vert-ical gearwhich the satire horizontal shaft F1 suitably supported, at lts opposite ends, in bearinvs of the enduprights B2 of theframewor .-B. This hub', F3 is put into and out ofl connectiony with, the shafty F4 by means of a sliding. clutchcollar (i2-arranged` on -and connected to the shaft-'by a spline-joint g and otherwise adapted to be moved into and out of engagement through anoperatin'g vertical-1ever H2, see Figs. 2 and 2^ more particularly.

nism above explained, at its opposite endportions, has vertical bevel gear-wheels J2, J2, and each -of these bevel-gears meshes' with a similar but smaller or pinion bevelgear-wheel K2, K2 and each cof. these bevel pi'nions K2, 1'2 is at t-lie lower end of one `of a pair of inclined shafts L2 severally sup' ported and turning` in suitable bearings of the framework B and each, at its upper endportion, entered into thechamber It of a trunnion-hanging F and in the portion thereof whieh is on the central tubular-passage (la therein each of said shaftsi or less horizontal bevel pin- M in mesh with a vertical Ue'zflr-wheel N2 on a horizontal llocated axially within I f the trunnion-hanging F and in the" o'rizontal plane of the axis of ably supported and turns in a bearing of the wall of'said side tubular-passages. These shafts O2, within theside tubular-passages, are each provided with avertical bevel pinhorizontal bevel Vpinion gear-wheel Q2 on the axial shaft O of said passages, and thus, .as is plain, from the descriptiono'iven and with the shaft F4 and .gear-,wheel in engagement, the spirally running .blades of the said several side-tubular-passages D,

rotation of the dri'ving-sha'ft'lt. All of the several -gear-wheels herein above mentioned are shown in every instance in vblank outline and either in full or dotted lines.'

The gear-wheels W, WV, and iipthetubular-passage C are 'of an open or skeletonment of the air .through the passage. l

In the operation of the' mechanism, Vdescribed, it is evident that the rotation of the spiral running-blades N. within the several tubular-passages', by drawing air in and forcing it therethrough and discharging it,

' also such that the under pressure, from one end of each4 there# necessarily secures the movement, or -`v el of the apparatus in th'e opposite diection to said inovements'of'tlie air, and so ytheieby causes, in t-he case of the central tubular-passage C, 'a forward movement o'r travel, and in the. case of the side tubularpassages D,l )2, and E, E2, an upward movement or raising 'of theapparatus, it being understood that said side-passages are then in their vertical positions asshown, full lines, in the drawings. Continuation of' the rotation of the several series of propellingblades Nv obviously conti-nues the movements of the apparatus as above described and said movements, obviously, as to their speed, direction luid otherwise may be changed or regulated by suitable guiding or steering mechanism with which the apparatus is to be provided, but not shown herein, as also by regulating the speed of rotation of the several series of Ipropelliiig-blades N, and by adjusting, as described', the vertical positions of the side tubular-passages relative to the axial'line of the central tubular-passage.

The rotation of the blades N may be reversed in direction, if desired, by reversing the direction of rotation of the drivingshaft R. Again the blades N may run continuously around their. respective shafts O, or they may be in separated sections or parts,las is shown, and their pitch may be more oi' less great all as is thought best.

The framework B, Figs. 2, and 4, eX-V -tendvs Labo-ve the central tubular-passage C' and this extended .portionis widened out and at the top itterminates in a continuous rectangular frame of parallel side and endrods, all in a common horizontal plane, running lengthwise of and having its central ,line in the vertical plane of the longitudinal.

axis of said central 'tubular-passage C, or of the apparatus as a whole.

12 is a rectangular frame of side and end` rods substantially corresponding in length and width with,vand normally at rest on the Vhorizontal upper rectangular frame-portion, above mentioned, of the framework B.

' lhis frame 12, at one end, is hung by hinges 13, 13 to, but otherwise it is free of the framework B. This frame 12 has alrod 14 Vwhich is fixed to and joins its yopposite endrods and extends along its lonfitudinal cen' tral line, and to leach of its side-rods 15, 15 is hung by loo-ps 16, 16,spaced apart, a "i1-lane 17 of fiat thin sheet metal, or of other suitable material. or construction. and each 'of said hangings-of the plane ".17 lis along the'centralportion thereof and itis' i planes 17can be swung from aivertical position (Figs. 1, 2and 3) 'tofahoijizontal position (Fig. 4) andvice versa,l and in their bvertical osition each plaiiev 17 rests against the inner side`of Ithe lframework B, vand in their horizontal position each plane, 'l'l 'lies against the .Q

under side otthe central rod 14 ot the trame 12. Tl'ie planes 17 are all of the' same length and width-and adapted to be freely swung as described, and in" their horizontal positions to meet with their .side edges under said rod 14, and to then practically root over' the apparatus, 'see'Fig 4.

For swingingthe planes 17 as explained, mechanism 1s provided, as tollows 18, 18 are crank-arms held on andv4 projecting from o-ne and the same end ot each of the planes 17 and the ends thereof which are toward the rear end C3 of the central tubulai'.passage C. To each of these crank-arms. 1S is hung one end of rods 19,

19 which, atthe other ends, are hung rC- spectively tothe opposite and outer ends of a common verticallyv swinging beam or 4 rod 20, which, midway ot' itslength is hung on a horizontal cross-'piece B6 of the framework B and is provided at'and has fixed on it a lever-arm 21 w'hich'at its opposite and outer ends has operating ropes'22 and 23 respectively. By a downward pull on the operating-rope 22 the planes 17 are swung into their vertical positions and a downward pull on the operating-,rope 2.3, thel planes 17 are swung into their horizontal-positions, and in either instance, by

properly securing said ropes, obviously, the

planes can be secured in the said' positions as may be desired.

As the frame 12 carrying the planes 17 i is hung at one end to the framework B other or free end is obviously free to rise and fall, and the heightto which this free! end can rise is limited by the abutment ot ,the end 24 of the central rod 14 of the frame 12 against the under side of the cross-rod BT of the framework B, and` this cross-rod B7 has a. downwardly projecting vert-ical guideway B8 receiving said end 24 ot the centralrod 14 oit the frame 12. l

The planes 17 wherrit is desired to raise the apparatus in the air, are placed and secured in 'their described verticalposit-ions, and when the vapparatus is traveling through the air they are in their described horizontal positions, and being theny 'so placed they,

in aerial apparatus, act to hold as in the vcase of all such planes and buoy-up, as it were, the apparatus in the air as itis being impelled therethrough as aforesail. And again the adapting, as has been explained, of the planes l:tor an upward play or swing on the' apparatus, obviously is' of advantage in hthat the planes can the better accommodate themselves to the desired action thereof.

As is sho-wn in the drawings, Fig. 4 more particularly, the apparatus has, along .each of its sides, curtains 30, 80, andthese curtains are suspended at and along their upper edges by rings 31, from horizontal longitudinalslde-rails 32, vwhich, in turn,

are each hung on vertical hangers 33, 33., suspended from the outer side of each et the side. tubular-passages D, DL'. and E, E?, by swiveling joints 34, 34, the axes et which, are in alinement with the axes oit the teure nion-joints F of the tubular-passages upon which the said. swiveling joints are tamed., In this way the side tubular-passages can swivel on said curtain-hangers, as are swung from vert-ical to horizontal positions as has been explained. These lcintains 3%.; 30, are of suitable dimensions to embrace or cover the apparatus von'its opposite sides, from the hangers downward and so, ling vmade ot any suitable material resistant to ball or yother shot such for instance, as .wire net-ting or perforated metal plates, the apparatus will be protected to a certain extentagainst injury from ball or other shot discharged against and striking them. @pen curtains such as stated are preferable in that they can be seen through and will not materially adect the passage of light'andA runs, may be of the same spiral run for the whole length ot the passage, in which case, of course, the sleeve Q .on the shaft 0, as also the gearing would be dispensed with, and the bladesfor that central port-ion now attached to said sleeve would be attached directly lto the shaft O;`it being understood that the spiral run of the so attached blades would-be the or rotating said sleeve` same as that of the en dfportions of the ,Y

blades.

In the practical'use of the apparatus' described andwith' it Vtraveling 'through the air, it 4might be and probably would be preferable to place lthe several side tubular- 'passages in downward inclining 'positions relatively to the axis of the central tubularpassage as shown in heavy dotted lines, Fig. 2, in which case the rotationof the blades within such'sidopassage's would not only more or less act'to maintain the apparatus in a raised position but also' to propel the apparatus forward.

lt may be well to observe that all parts of the apparatus vare to be made of material as light and buoyant as is possible consistent with the necessary strength and stiffness.

lfor reasons inauitcsl Ytroni the foregoing desrriptioi'i and not needing further Aexplanation. Again it will he observed that side- 'tubes or passages, each with rotating blades as explainedv` niay be used to advantage in aerial aplpiaratuses ot various constructions and arrangement of parts other than thatI particularly described., and the central tube or passage may be dispensed with, it beine, of course, understood that suitable supports are provided on which to hang them for the Cil changes in positions as has been explained. Again the central tube or passage C in lieu of being directly horizontal from end to end, when the apparatus is in its normal position, as is shown, may be on an incline from its front end C2 to its rear end C3.

Each of the Figs. 3 planes 17 in full lirios as in one position and in dotted lines in their other positions. relative to the framework B ofthe apparatus.

1U which is a detail centra] and.

horizontal longitudinal section of the central tube C fcra portion ot its lengthI is broken out in its bottom part 'so as to expose the train of gearing Y which is'arrangedbelow and carried cn the underside of said tube.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure .by-Letters Patent is, i

l. In an aerial apparatus, a tubular-passage or way open at both of its ends, but otherwise `closed and having spirally running blades axially located and arranged to be rotated Within said passage, and tubularpassages or ways on opposite sides of said fixed tubular-passage and severally open at their opposite ends, but otherwise closed, and severally provided with spirally running blades axially located and arranged to be rotated within them and severally hung by swivel or trunnion-joints on the sides ot' said fixed longitudinaltubular-passage in combination with curtains at said side tubular-passages, side-rods on which said curta-ins are hung, and swivel joints hanging said rods on said side-passages. I l

2. In an aerialapparatus, a tubular `pasand 4, shows the sage or way open' at both of its end.'-s,and surrounded by a. chamber adapted to contain a lighter-than-air tluidsaid passage having' a series of spirally arranged blades located at opposite ends' thereof, and adapted to be rotated about a common axis in one and the saine direction, aseries of spil-ally arranged blades located within the space intervening between said end series of blades, and adapted to be rotated about said common axis in an oppositey direction, tubular passages or ways' on opposite sides `of=said first named tubular passage, severally-open 'at their opposite ends and surrounded by chambers adapted to containl a 4lLighter-than-air fluid, and severally provided with spirally running oppositely disposed blades` axially located-'and adapted to be rotated t-herewith inv` each of said last named passages being4 at opposite ends thereof, and adapted to be rotated about a common axis 'in one andthe' i saine d1rect1on', a series of splrally arrangedl bladeslocated Within the space mtervening between said i end .series of blades, and adapted to be rotated about4 said common axis in an opposite direction, tubular pas sages or ways on opposite sides of said first named tubular'passage, severally open at their opposite end sand surrounded lby chambers adapted to contain a lighterfthanair fluid, and severally provided with spirally running oppositely 'disposed `blades axially located and adapted .to 'be rotated therewithin', each' of said last named passages being hung by a trunnion joint .upon the 's1-de ot said first named passage, a frame arranged to be swung about an axis disposed substantially parallel'to the pivotal axesot said side vtubular passages, andl planes mounted on said trarne. and adapted to be rocked about axes arranged*substantially parallel tothe median axial line of said first named passage.-

' Iniwitness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

Grotten n. eoonnien.

tnesses:

[traiteur WL BROWN,

moN" E. BROWN. 

